Thank you, Asia "Forever Changed: 2011" (4 days until seeing Adam)

This is Part 1 of two parts.  I am reposting a post from May 22, 2011 called "Forever Changed."  At the time, it had a whopping 3 views!  Part 2 will be posted tomorrow, when I again reflect on how I have changed.  Enjoy.

Our first year living abroad is coming to a close in a few weeks and we shall travel back to Wisconsin  to visit friends and family.  I'm excited to get back "home."  I expect some people may be interested in how this year has changed me.  And while I've given thought to what I've enjoyed this year, what has been challenging, and what I've missed from back home, I haven't yet given much thought to how I've changed.

So let me try it here.

I would have to say the biggest change is that I've been untethered from the USA and North America.  We used to think, "Let's go to Utah (or Florida, or California, or Mexico)" now we think "Let's go to Malaysia (or the Philippines or Australia or Cambodia or Vietnam or Europe or on safari in Africa)."  Our children used to think "Let's go to the Dells."  Now Anna says things like "When can we go to Paris, the city of Love?"  This is pretty huge because it implies a different world view than before (for all of us).  Globalization already had been making the world smaller (or flatter, depending on who you read), but now globalization is also a part of my existence and very real.

Changing from living in a house to living in an apartment has been less significant that I thought it would be.  Some friends and I were musing about this today.  We worried that living in a big city would mean the end of nature in our lives.  We used to sit on the deck in the back yard and enjoy the flowers and trees, etc.  We worried that apartment life would feel so confining without a back yard to go to.  What we've found is that Korea (at least Seoul and the surrounding communities) has made a concerted effort to create green spaces (extensive parks and biking trails) for people to enjoy.  Also, the mountains are replete with trails.  It is not hard to find nature here at all, and that makes apartment living less sterile and confining than one might think.  So, while I yearn for a back yard BBQ and the chance to sit on a lawn chair, I've also come to love hiking and biking on trails and playing with friends and family in a local green space.

In some ways, using public transportation has changed me.  First of all, I'd never used the city buses in Green Bay (and I don't know that I would now).  But now I feel more comfortable taking a bus or a subway or a train.  I did know how to ride a subway before, but now I know how to get around  by bus waiting as much as 20 minutes for it to show. An odd side effect of being on a bus with strangers who probably don't speak much English is that you stop talking all together.  No one on the buses talks unless it is to quiet their child.  Mostly, they listen to ipods, read, or doze.  But rarely does anyone talk.  Yesterday I was on a bus that was so crowded all the seats and the aisle were elbow to elbow people.  Probably 55 - 60 people were on the bus, and the bus was SILENT.  Between the quiet nature of public transportation and the language barrier, I've found that I no longer say the customary "Hi. How are you?" or   "Excuse me." etc.  No more potential for "small talk" with a stranger, unless that stranger speaks English too.

Recently I realized that this year has allowed me (or forced me) to explore different interests.  For the past few decades my hobbies have focused on singing and acting and walking.  These are three thing that I love!  While in Korea I've not had the opportunity to sing or act BUT I have been able to resurrect old interests like playing volleyball and piano.  About two or three times a month I've been playing duets with a friend from work.  I've also taken up yoga once a week.  There is a pretty large group of teachers who like to play volleyball, so I've been able to do that again (even ended up on this weekend tournaments' winning team!)  I've taken up hiking and more biking.  It's been fun to pursue new interests and resurrect old ones!  I believe I'm becoming more physically diverse.  That's pretty cool.

The last way I believe I've changed is that I've gotten spoiled.  To define that further, my job here has spoiled me, and I love it.  I haven't had to work at a dizzying pace this year nor have I had to work tirelessly at home with a huge paperwork load every night.  This is an amazing thing!  It means I am pretty much stress free and relaxed for a good portion of each day.  This is not to say that I am not working hard or to my fullest potential.  On the contrary, I believe I've got more time for planning, thinking, and creativity.  I have more contact with my students since I have fewer students to care for.  I get to be myself in the classroom and that is a joy.  I believe it would be hard to return to 150 students to care for and 150 papers to mark.  For one who has sought balance for much of her life, I believe I've found the best balance here.  Lots of time with family; lots of time with friends; productive time at work; (more time needed at church, though).

If any of these changes sound intriguing to you, I encourage you to think beyond your usual "world", even if it is just to look at a National Geographic magazine or go for that bike ride you've been talking about but never do.  You're never too old to learn something new.  Give it a go!

Thank you, Asia "Manifesting Korea in Hong Kong" (30 days until Wisconsin)

 I think I have been reminiscing about Korea too much.  Everything came at me at once recently.  By the end of the day I felt like I had been in Korea once again. And I have to say it was an amazing day.  

For lunch I was at a vegan restaurant in Central named Fresca.  They had a few Korean options, which I chose.  One was "jjapjae" - a glass noodle dish.

Just a few hours later I was in Stanley.  I headed into Watson's to get a water and spotted Chilsing Cider, a soda pop beverage I'd not seen since our life in Korea.  So I bought it and enjoyed it very much!

A few hours later I received a Facebook message and video from a former Korean student from Green Bay, Yunji.  I'd not heard from her in months but here she was sending a short video of driving by our place in Korea, Goodmorning Hill.  What?

Goodmorning Hill April 2021 

Video Credit: Yunji L. 

A few hours later Brent and I were at our first Korean BBQ in years. I had been hankering for Korean BBQ and wanted to be sure to have some before we left Hong Kong.  Dave and Theresa knew of a great place in Causeway Bay called Seorae.  It WAS a great place.  

Theresa, Brenda, Brent, Dave awaiting the meat for the BBQ

Dave and Brent especially enjoyed resurrecting their Korean to order beer "mekchu" and calling a waiter over with "yogiyo!"  We also loved having the call button on the table as they do in Korea.  We loved making our little bite-size meat in lettuce wraps and eating lots of kimchi and side dishes.  Just like old times.  Although Dave and Theresa had lived in Korea after we left, we had many shared experiences as we had lived in nearby dongs and had worked at KIS.   It was a delightful way to be transported back to life in Korea for a few hours.  

Side dishes and sauces.

Yummy Kimchi

Hite mekchu

Meat on a grill (Photo Credit: Tim Bray)

The evening finished with a rooftop bar at Alto where we could see over Victoria Harbour.  Life felt almost pre-Covid and back to normal.  Thank you for my virtual day in Korea, Hong Kong!

The view from Alto.  Alas, not many more opportunities to see this view of Hong Kong. 

Photos by © Brenda Brayko unless otherwise noted. 

Thank you, Asia "Traditional Korean Wedding" (34 days until Wisconsin).

 In April 2014 I had the unusual opportunity to attend a traditional Korean wedding.  The circumstances alone are surprising.  You see, I had a former student from Notre Dame Academy land in Korea before we did.  She had become a teacher and was teaching grade school in Busan.  By chance I learned Mary and I were both in Korea.  Once we were in touch with each other again, it turned out she had fallen in love with a wonderful Korean man and they had decided to get married.  Not everyone has a traditional Korean wedding.  In fact, most young people have an interesting hybrid for a wedding, which is entirely different from the traditional wedding.  But in Mary's case, she wanted the traditional kind.  Mary had attended Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay and came from a strong Catholic background.  Neither of her parents were familiar with the language or the culture, but they had flown to Korea to participate in a wedding held entirely in Korean!

This was held at on outdoor venue at a kind of large, ornate pagoda. 

Mary had been sure to have programs created with both English and Korean for all of her English speaking guests.  This way we could more or less follow along in the ceremony.  

First came the bride carried on a litter.  After this, the groom arrives, also on a litter.  

Following that , I remember there was a sort of parade.  There were entertainers such as the traditional Korean dancers who spin ribbon around their heads from specially fitted hats.  And there was a plate spinner/juggler.  There was also a sort of MC reminiscent of a circus master of ceremonies - someone to get and keep the crowd excited and entertained.  

Next, the bride and groom descend from their litters and walk down the aisle.  Mary had to hold her elbows out and high as her fingers touched.  It looked challenging as the walk was ceremoniously slow.

During the ceremony the groom gives his mother-in-law a wooden duck to represent his fidelity to the daughter; as ducks mate for life this is a lovely symbol.  In Mary's case, her parents were such good sports to show up at a wedding and play certain parts without even knowing how it worked or what was being said.  They looked a bit shell shocked, but happy.

After many ceremonial exchanges, the service was over.  Then began the reception!  There was so much food for the guests.  It was rather overwhelming.  We thoroughly enjoyed our opportunity to support Mary on her wedding day. 

Thank you, Mary, and Korea for such an amazing experience. 

Thank you, Asia "Pop up gardens in Korea" (62 days left)

Something that never ceased to fascinate me in Korea were the tiny gardens that seemed to pop up just about anywhere there was dirt or even gravel.  These gardens were not on property owned by families or individuals, but simply small plots of public land.  The people tending them were the elders, those who lived through the Korean war and knew all too well about food insecurity.

For example, one could be riding down the highway and spot a tiny garden just up the embankment next to a grove of bushes or trees.  This area, hardly noticed by anyone, provided a small plot of earth to grow vegetables.  Another popular spot was a small 4' x 8' area of gravel next to one of the walking paths near us.  Gravel would be shoved aside and spring onions would be popping through.  

Every now and then we would spot the gardeners - old men and women carrying a bucket of water up from the nearby stream to tend their precious garden.  They wore straw hats and mismatched bright patterned clothes. 

For awhile in a nearby neighborhood, there was quite a large plot of undeveloped land that had clearly evolved into a community garden.  We used to enjoy watching all the gardeners squatting down and taking such care for their plants.  Then one day the gardens were wiped out and bulldozers were poised to begin building new apartment buildings.

Sadly, this was a bit of a sign of things to come.  Notice that none of the gardeners were young and none of the plots were owned.  I am fairly certain that within a generation, this sign of a tenacious, scrappy Korea who still remembers what it is to live intertwined with nature will be gone along with those who have tended them.

Photos by © Brenda Brayko.  All rights reserved.

Car elevator - who knew?

I never knew there was such a thing as a car elevator.  But there is.  And now I can say I've driven into one.

Patricia had only told me "there will be parking" at the foot massage place.  I followed her there only to arrive at what looked like a one-stall garage door.  But, it was a car elevator.  I have to admit I pretty much freaked out!  The two other ladies in the car with me got a kick out of my reaction.

So, the door goes up, you drive in, push the floor you want (in this case B3) then the "close door" option.  The door shuts behind you; there is a bit of a jerking sensation and you're off!  The wall in front of you appears to be moving!  It's a bit claustrophobic.  Well, after a bit, you arrive on the other end, the door opens and you drive out.  Sounds rather innocuous, but I have to say it was so strange a sensation that I made one of the passengers hold my hand while I shrilled and shrieked.

There you have it - a brand new experience in Korea!

Try this link to see a picture and learn more.

Mr. Toilet House

Me: What shall we do today?
Anna: Let's go to the Toilet Museum!
Me: Sure, let's.  Call up your friend and let's grab a cab and go!

1 hour later. . .

The girls were squatting over "squatter" statuary.

We were being grossed out by the life-size bronze statue with the hanging gold poo. . .

Thinking over how strange this place was. . . 

And really glad we found the largest golden poo ever!

Unfortunately we didn't get to see an actual arial view of the museum, constructed as a toilet.  But the interior view was plenty!

And to TOP it OFF, we saw the first annual Humorous Poo contest entries which covered the second floor.

I've never seen so much fake poo in all my life.

Thank you Mr. Toilet, AKA former Mayor of Suwon and Chairman of the World Toilet Association for a fun day.

Now for more serious matters, Mr. Jack Sim is now deceased, but he spent his life seeking to improve the circumstances of the poor who lack proper sanitation.  You may enjoy this short film on the internet:

Forward Focus: Meet Mr. Toilet